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Case study, Dr Rosemary MacRae: 'We are worn out'

We planned to take on a new partner this year, but that was based on this year’s income. It’s getting harder and home life is suffering. It’s difficult to plan ahead when the contract changes year after year. We’re worn out. We’re not going to take any action that will harm the patient, so what can we do?

We thought we’d agreed a contract in 2004 but it’s been changed year on year. We’ve got a choice between suffering financially or taking on everything thrown at us. I have my doubts about the usefulness of some of the work: dementia screening – how useful is that going to be? It takes time to do properly.

We don’t feel we can take on more work, but the Government expects us to do more for the same money. Work is just added; nothing is dropped. Not paying us for the organisational work to release money for the additional stuff doesn’t mean we can stop doing it. We’re doing 11-hour days already and weekends.

Readers' comments (6)

Anonymous23 Jan 2013 2:39pm

I will be 56 this year. I never thought I would consider early retirement but I am now actively exploring it as an option. For the first time the prospect of being a GP locum is an attractive one.Surely someone must start to listen and act on the views of grass roots GPs?

I packed in GP having been a principle for a very long time. I would have liked to have stayed in the practice but, as above, I got fed-up to the teeth with the constant change imposed from above for less and less income.So I packed it in and now work in OOH. Roughly the same money for much less work and no admin or NHS cr*p! Good luck to you all. I really feel that a strong and radical approach to the Government is required but, collectively, doctors seem rather weak.

I wish I could now leave this country or change profession , I became a GP to enjoy my work and serve the patients . I am really frustrated over these changes, I agree with the above comments. People above us who are making decision for us are not clinically practicing GP's or doing only a few sessions currently!!

General Practice is now a high road to exhaustion. If you cannot do the job without making yourself ill then the job is wrong. So......... stand up to an unreasonable government, refuse to do dementia checks etc, take a small drop in income but maintain self respect.